Ranah Minang- Bukit Tinggi, Indonesia

The Unique Minangkabau roof at sunrise

The four of us, Dith, Boogey, Boogey's wife Salina and I, went for a 5 days 4 nights trip to Bukit Tinggi, Sumatera Barat, a hill town, 2 hrs up north of Padang . Arriving at Padang airport at about 9 am local time, we immediately headed for Bukit Tinggi. Midway we stopped at Padang Panjang to delight our palates with gastronomic Minang dishes. Over here, we visited the Rumah Gadang, a minang house converted into a museum and also attentively heard a short lecture on the Adat Pepatih and Adat Temenggong and their differences. The lady who spoke was very eloquent and she defended the matriarchal ways of adat Pepatih by highlighting various poignant points. I reserved my opinions though.

Rumah Gadang or Big house

A morning stroll with Jam Gadang at the top of the hill

Obeserving the sunrise with Mount Merapi in view

En en our so called driver who graduated in IT and movie making, youngest son of our Hotel owner

After a rather arduous journey, we arrived at the cool and quaint old town of Bukit Tinggi . After settling/a short nap in the hotel, we toured the town on foot. At the town centre was the jam gadang or huge town clock which was leaning. Opposite was Bung Hatta’s palace with his statue and bust erected in front. Down the road was Fort de Kock. From the town centre, one could view a beautiful panorama that stretches from the majestic Gunung Merapi down south to Gunung Singgalang in the west. North was the Ngarai Sianok, a fairly huge canyon with a river meandering the deep valley below. At the edge of the hill, the canyon offered such a breathtaking scene. In the hills at the edge that faces the canyon was a catacomb of tunnels built by the Japanese during their occupation. It ran 6 km in total length and had secret exits that open into the canyon.

Ranah Minang- Bukit Tinggi, Indonesia

Masjid Bingkudu, Canduang, Agam

Alhamdulillah we managed to perform Friday prayers in the oldest Mosque in Indonesia, more than 2 centuries old. Masjid Bingkudu, Canduang, Agam, made from solid wood with roofs of Ijok leaves, still stand strong and exude a majestic charm of the olden days. 2 years ago, we also had the opportunity to pray in the second oldest mosque in Indonesia i.e. Masjid Sultan Mataram, Kota Gede, jogja. Insyallah maybe next time we will pray in the third oldest Mosque of Indonesia.

Re: Ranah Minang- Bukit Tinggi, Indonesia

Later, we proceeded to Lembah Harau, truly a sight to behold, a vast area of canyons and valleys with several great waterfalls of probably 20 storeys high. One had water which falls straight to the bottom without hitting the side rocks, causing a deep impact to the pool below and splashing water all over.

Re: Ranah Minang- Bukit Tinggi, Indonesia

On the third day , we ventured out to Danau Maninjau, a large volcano crater lake that measures 70km in perimeter. More importantly, the famous muslim writer Hamka hailed from a village by the lake i.e. Kg Sg Batang. On the way we passed through a road that is flanked by earthy walls on both sides. I was convinced that spiders like tarantula and trapdoors lived there. True enough! We spent quite sometime searching for their nests and giving our guide a short lecture on these ancient creatures. He was impressed, non the less!

The dark realm of trapdoors and tarantulas

On the way down to Tasik Maninjau

Tasik Maninjau from Puncak Lawang

Another view of Tasik Maninjau. Sitting at the edge

Passing through Matur town , we went up Puncak Lawang, to view Lake Maninjau from above. After another lunch of Minang food, we began the hair-pin journey down to Danau Maninjau. There are a total of 44 sharp hair-pin bends (keluk), and one has to drive cautiously when negotiating each bend, honking and braking.

Reaching the first small town we took the left turn, heading for Buya Hamka's house. Situated aprox. 14 km away, the house has been refurbished with ABIM's aid. Few km before the house, we saw the small surau that Buya Hamka used to study the quran. At the house we were briefed by the caretaker and bought some books by Hamka. On the way back we chanced upon the makam of Hamka's father and his madrassah. We then began our journey back up the dwindling road uphill. Truly, Maninjau is a majestic lake and it is no wonder why Hamka boasted about it with pride in many of his poems.

Re: Ranah Minang- Bukit Tinggi, Indonesia

One of the attraction site in Bukit Tinggi is the Lobang Jepang, catacombs of tunnels made during the Japanese occupation in 1942/43. In total the tunnels measure 6 km and are used to store ammunitions, military strategies etc. Forced labor was imported from Jawa and Sulawesi and these poor people were killed after completion of tunnels. The hill that houses the tunnels face a fairly big canyon called Ngarai Si anok. In the background is Mount Singgalang.

Images of Lobang Jepang

A view of Ngarai Si anok

A shop on top of Lobang Jepang selling embroidered telekung (price is cheaper here)